Jones Scores 23 To Power Heat Past Pacers

January 20, 2002|By Harvey Fialkov Staff Writer

MIAMI — Perhaps, the Heat should start all its home games at 9 p.m.

Before the pushed back tip-off, Heat guard Eddie Jones said he hated the late start because he didn't like leaving his house in the dark. That didn't stop Jones and most of his teammates from shooting the lights out in Miami's 100-88 victory over the injury-depleted Pacers Saturday night to extend its winning streak to a season-high four games.

Riding the momentum of a 3-1 western swing and anxious to get started, the Heat hit 12 of its first 15 shots and after not reaching 100 in its first 35 games now has done so in two of its last three and for the first time at home since March 21, 2001 (a 26-game span).

"We got off to an absolutely great start," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "We built on that start and just stayed with it."

With the slumping Cavaliers and abysmal Bulls coming up on Monday and Tuesday, it's a chance to keep the ball rolling.

Winning breeds confidence," Riley said. "If anything is going to happen, it has to start now. Their NBA-ological clock is now."

Jones hit four of his first five shots to spark a 21-9 run that helped construct a 34-28 lead after the first quarter that the Heat wouldn't relinquish. Jones, who scored 29 in Miami's 89-87 victory over the Pacers on Jan. 19 that began this current seven of 10 winning stretch, finished with 23 on 9 of 14 from the field.

Fittingly, it was Jones' two free throws that hit the century mark and drew a rousing cheer from the fans.

"We maintained and never let it slip," Jones said. "We had control of the game. It was a great feeling to keep the lead and finish them off in the fourth quarter."

The Heat shot a torrid 66.7 percent in the first quarter and a season-high 61.9 in the first half (54.4 overall) and led 59-48 after Jones banked in a runner just before the halftime buzzer. Unlike his wild 3-point bank shot that catapulted the Heat to victory over Portland Thursday, Jones didn't have to call glass on this one.

When the starters needed a blow, the bench, ignited by LaPhonso Ellis and Eddie House (9 points, 5 assists), maintained a lead that never dipped below seven points in the second half. Ellis, who had been mired in a shooting slump, nailed his first six shots and finished with 14 (7 of 9) points.

The Pacers put together a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter on consecutive 3-pointers by Jalen Rose and Reggie Miller, and a driving layup by Rose which helped slice the Heat's 86-69 advantage to 88-81 with 6:22 remaining. But E.J. answered with a 3-pointer and two jumpers to secure a 95-83 lead with 4:27 remaining.

"Our bench gave us a huge lift [tonight]," said center Alonzo Mourning, who continued his All-Star push with 12 points and nine rebounds. "One of our main focus is to improve our home court record, which we did tonight while entertaining the fans."

Point guard Rod Strickland, who was coming off a season-high 11-assist performance against the Blazers, topped that with 13, for his first back-to-back double-digit assist games since Dec. 2000.

The Pacers, playing without blossoming stars center Jermaine O'Neal (hyperextended left knee) and rookie point guard Jamaal Tinsley (strained left groin and assorted bruises) started center Carlos Rogers and forward Jonathan Bender for the first time this season. They were dominated by the Heat front court of Mourning and Brian Grant (12 points, 10 rebounds).

"We are missing two key players and it's hard to beat a hot team when you're not coming at them with your best," said Pacers coach Isiah Thomas.

Jones also held Miller, a longtime thorn in Riley's side, to 14 points, after the 3-point marksmen had scored 20 or more points in his last three games. Miller was 0 for 5 in the first half but did score Indiana's first seven points of the third quarter. However, a resurgent Kendall Gill (tied a season high with 13 points) answered with three straight jumpers and House closed out the quarter with a jumper and a drive to help the Heat maintain an 82-69 lead after three.

When you're 4-13 (now 5-13) at home, which is one more loss than the Heat had at AmericanAirlines Arena all last season, a time change can't hurt. The game was pushed back because of a potential conflict with NBC's national broadcast of Michael Jordan's homecoming game against the Bulls (which was later rendered moot after the NBA shifted it from 6:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. so as not to compete with the NFL playoff doubleheader).

"We got to get better here and give the crowd something to show up [for]," Jones said.

The Heat chose not to confuse the fans by switching back to its usual 7:30 p.m. start. Instead, it was the Pacers who seemed confused as they never did get going and dropped their fifth straight for the first time since 1993.